Things Fall Apart is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua

Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the

southeastern part of Nigeria and the attack by Europeans
during the late 19th century. The novel follows the life of
Okonkwo, an Igbo ("Ibo" in the novel) man and local wrestling
champion in the fictional Nigerian clan of Umuofia. The work is
split into three parts, with the first describing his family,
personal history, and the customs and society of the Igbo, and
the second and third sections introducing the influence of
European colonialism and Christian missionaries on Okonkwo,
his family, and the wider Igbo community. Things Fall Apart was
followed by a sequel, No Longer at Ease (1960), originally
written as the second part of a larger work along with Arrow of
God (1964).
Okonkwo

The protagonist of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo

is a stubborn, impatient, and fear-driven character who
represents power, toxic masculinity, and traditional values. He
is ashamed of his father, Unoka, because Unoka was constantly
in debt to others and lived a financially unsuccessful life. This
shame drives Okonkwo’s attitude and fear of failure. Okonkwo
desires to be as unlike his father as possible.
This sets up Okonkwo’s tragic flaw and role as a tragic hero. He
is a powerful and successful man, but he rejects of his father’s
kindly and calm traits. This causes him to mistreat his son and
family, react aggressively instead of thoughtfully, and view
sensitivity as a weakness. Okonkwo is described as “a man of
action, a man of war.” He is intimidating, with a large body and
a certain way of walking and breathing that suggests personal
prowess. However, Okonkwo has a stammer, and when he is
unable to express himself with words, he resorts to violence.
Unlike his father, Okonkwo is successful. He becomes the
“greatest wrestler in the nine villages” and a wealthy farmer.
He has three wives and two titles in his village, Iguedo, of the
clan Umuofia. Okonkwo also demonstrates his skill and power
in two intertribal wars.
Okonkwo treats each of his children differently. He is often
disappointed in and rough with his eldest son, Nwoye, whereas
he appreciates his daughter Ezinma’s keen understanding.
Okonkwo also inwardly cares for Ikemefuna, who was traded to
the village of Umuofia to stop a war. To Okonkwo, affection is
weakness. When the village elders decide to sacrifice
Ikemefuna, they tell Okonkwo not to take part in the killing.
However, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna himself.
Unoka

Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was a gentle and idle man who was
fond of playing music. A foil to Okonkwo, Unoka was not a
successful or respected man. The beginning of Things Fall Apart
shows Unoka interacting with a debtor, who refuses to break a
kola nut with him. The refusal to break the kola nut means that
the debtor has no respect for Unoka despite his old age, which
generally garners respect in Igbo society.
Furthermore, Unoka’s tendency to beg for money from the
people of the village demonstrates his lack of riches. Unoka was
never very good at keeping a farm or caring for his children and
wives, either; Okonkwo ends up doing this work for him from a
young age, which only increases Okonkwo’s resentment toward
his careless father. Although Unoka is only briefly present in
Things Fall Apart, his careless and lazy nature affects and drives
Okonkwo to act aggressively and to never accept failure. The
relationship between Unoka and Okonkwo represents a clash
between father, son, and cultural expectations. Unoka does not
live up to expectations and brings his family shame even in
death. Furthermore, it is Unoka’s miscommunication and
negligence that pushes Okonkwo away from him.
Obierika

Obierika is Okonkwo’s closest friend; knew Okonkwo’s father,

Unoka; and understands Okonkwo’s background. Unlike
Okonkwo, Obierika is reflective and thoughtful. He often
provides commentary on Okonkwo’s actions and on life in
Umuofia. Although Obierika is sympathetic to Okonkwo’s
depression over Ikemefuna, he still rebukes Okonkwo for his
part in the killing. Obierika detests violence, condemning the
ritualistic killing. While Obierika values tradition, he also knows
that Okonkwo’s role in Ikemefuna’s death was unnecessary.
While Okonkwo is exiled, Obierika helps the other
clansmen burn down Okonkwo’s hut and farm, as is tradition
following a banishment. Obierika visits Okonkwo in Mbanta,
informs Okonkwo of news from Umuofia, and grows some of
Okonkwo’s yams for him in Iguedo to sell to sharecroppers.
Obierika brings these profits to Okonkwo when he visits
Mbanta. During Okonkwo’s banishment, Obierika tells him the
rumors about the white men and missionaries coming to the
villages. The next time Obierika visits, he tells Okonkwo that the
missionaries have taken over Iguedo. He tells Okonkwo that
Nwoye has converted to the missionaries’ religion. Okonkwo, at
the end of his seven-year banishment, asks Obierika to build
new huts for him for his return, representing the trust between
the two. Near the end of Things Fall Apart, Obierika is angry
and confused about Okonkwo’s death.

Nwoye
Nwoye is the son of Okonkwo’s first wife. Within the family
hierarchy, this positions Nwoye as the highest-ranking and
eldest son. Nwoye, like Unoka, serves as a foil to Okonkwo’s
character. He is sensitive, troubled by some Umuofian
practices, and drawn to music, hope, and the poetry of the new
religion, Christianity.
As a young boy, Nwoye is frequently a target for Okonkwo’s
harsh criticism. He tries to please his father but often fails. His
behavior and interests, which Okonkwo considers feminine,
remind Okonkwo of his own father. Nwoye, then, represents
Okonkwo’s failings as a father. This bothers Okonkwo, and he
tries to teach Nwoye and Ikemefuna about yams, which are a
symbol of manliness, prestige, and respect. When Nwoye does
not understand how to farm yams, Okonkwo becomes
frustrated and disappointed in Nwoye.
However, Nwoye is on the brink of separation from not only his
father but also his culture. Nwoye is disturbed by some of the
practices of his clan, specifically the casting off of infant twins
into the Evil Forest. He feels something “snapping” inside of
him when he hears the twins crying in the forest, and he again
feels a “snapping” when he sees Okonkwo return home after
killing Ikemefuna. These two instances are the start of Nwoye’s
separation from his father and his clan. After moving to his
father’s motherland, Mbanta, Nwoye is influenced by the
kindness the Christian missionaries display. He leaves his father
and family to be a part of the new religion. Near the end of
Things Fall Apart, Nwoye takes on the name Isaac as a symbol
of his conversion to Christianity and goes to study in Umuru.

Ikemefuna

Ikemefuna is a boy from the village of Mbaino. He is taken

when he is young to the village of Umuofia—both as a political
trade to avoid war and as repayment for the death of an
Umuofian girl. Although Ikemefuna belongs to the entire clan of
Umuofia, he is placed under Okonkwo’s care for three years, as
decided by Umuofia’s elders.
Ikemefuna does not understand why he was taken. He does not
know that his father killed a girl from Umuofia. He was too
surprised to say goodbye to his family before he was taken
away. Despite this tragic beginning, Ikemefuna fits in well with
Okonkwo’s family and grows very close to Nwoye, who regards
him as the brother he never had. Ikemefuna begins to call
Okonkwo his father, and he slowly forgets his previous life.
After three years, the Oracle orders Ikemefuna’s sacrifice.
Ikemefuna does not understand what is happening, and
Okonkwo tells him he is being returned to his old family in
order to avoid scaring him. Ikemefuna believes this right up
until his death; he is first cut down by one of the clansmen and
then killed by Okonkwo.

Ekwefi
Ekwefi is Okonkwo’s second wife. She fell in love with Okonkwo
while watching him during a wrestling match. Ekwefi would
have been Okonkwo’s first wife, but he was unable to pay her
bride price. However, Ekwefi was so impressed with Okonkwo
that she left her husband for him later on. Ekwefi is forty-five
years old in Things Fall Apart and has suffered a great deal: nine
out of ten of her children died in infancy. The Igbo people
attribute this to an ogbanje, an evil child spirit that reenters its
mother’s womb over and over, only to be born and then
purposely die early in childhood.
Ekwefi is forty-five years old in Things Fall Apart and has
suffered a great deal: nine out of ten of her children died in
infancy. The Igbo people attribute this to an ogbanje, an evil
child spirit that re-enters its mother’s womb over and over,
only to be born and then purposely die early in childhood.
Because of her many losses, Ekwefi deeply loves her only
surviving daughter, Ezinma, and she is anxious about losing her.
When Chielo visits the spirit of Agbala and asks for Ezinma,
Ekwefi—out of fear of losing her daughter—decides to follow
them and places herself in danger.

Ezinma: Ezinma is Ekwefi’s only child. She is Okonkwo’s favorite

daughter.

Obiageli: Obiageli is Okonkwo’s first wife’s daughter.

Nkechi: Nkechi is Okonkwo’s third wife’s daughter. 

Uchendu: Okonkwo’s eldest cousin, Uchendu, takes in and helps

Okonkwo when he returns to Mbanta after his banishment.
Nwakibie: A wealthy man of the village of Umuofia, Nwakibie holds the
second-highest title in the clan. He owns three barns, has nine wives,
and has thirty children. Okonkwo asked him for his first yam seeds.
Anasi: Anasi is the first wife of Nwakibie.
Ogbuefi Ezeudu: Ogbuefi is the oldest clan member in Umuofia. He
warns Okonkwo about the decision of the elders to kill Ikemefuna. He
tells Okonkwo that he cannot be a part of the killing because Ikemefuna
sees Okonkwo as a father.
Chielo: Chielo is the priestess of Agbala and the Oracle of the Hills and
the Caves. When not channeling Agbala, she is a widow and friend to
Ekwefi
Mr. Kiaga: Mr. Kiaga is a convert and interpreter for the Christian
missionaries. He builds a church in Mbanta. Mr. Kiaga also takes in
Nwoye after he leaves his father and home.
Mr. Brown: Mr. Brown is the white missionary responsible for bringing
Christianity to Umuofia.
Akunna: Akunna is a man from a village near Iguedo who converses
with Mr. Brown about religion. It is through their conversations that
Mr. Brown learns the ways of the Igbo.
Reverend James Smith: Reverend James Smith is a Christian missionary
and Mr. Brown’s successor. Reverend Smith is a very different man
from Mr. Brown. He does not understand the Igbo people. Instead, he
runs a strict church, and he sees Christianity as good and the Igbo
religion as evil.
Enoch: Enoch is a convert who, with the help of Reverend Smith,
becomes zealous in his following of Christianity. To prove the falsity of
the Igbo religion, Enoch unmasks the ancestral spirit of an egwugwu,
which is a horrendous crime in Umuofia.